LeBron’s so-called ‘Second Decision’ felt like clunky, straight-to-DVD sequel

LeBron James has delivered plenty of unforgettable basketball moments. Tuesday afternoon was not one of them.

If the original Decision was an unprecedented act of self-regard that reshaped the NBA, The Second Decision was … a liquor ad. And honestly, it might have been the corniest thing LeBron has ever done.

The Build-Up

On Monday night, LeBron fired off a tweet promising “the decision of all decisions” at noon Eastern the next day. That was all it took. Social media lost its mind.

Is this it? His retirement announcement? A farewell tour? A bombshell trade?

Nope. Savvier observers knew better. People close to LeBron were already hinting that it wasn’t going to be about basketball. But that didn’t stop fans from stampeding onto ticket resale sites to scoop up seats for what they assumed might be his final Lakers home game. Prices soared. Hopes rose.

LeBron had set the stage. He invoked The Decision — the 2010 TV special that captivated 13 million viewers and birthed an entire cottage industry of jersey-burning videos.

That night wasn’t just an NBA moment; it was a pop-culture earthquake. By referencing it, LeBron was deliberately touching that same emotional nerve.

The Reveal

And then … it was Hennessy.

Not a new team. Not a retirement speech. Not even a cheeky teaser for a future announcement. Just an ad for cognac.

Even the rollout was clunky. The announcement was supposed to drop at noon. Instead, Hennessy posted the video around 10:30 a.m., and LeBron quietly reposted it with a couple of emojis — like even he knew this wasn’t landing the way he imagined.

Look, nobody’s faulting him for cashing a massive endorsement check. That’s what stars do. But someone on Team LeBron really thought teasing The Decision to promote a bottle of booze was a good idea. That’s a head-scratcher.

The Letdown

The whole thing felt beneath him.

If this really is LeBron’s final season — and eventually, he’ll have to announce that — there should be a Decision 3 that carries real weight. A moment that bookends his career with the kind of spectacle and cultural resonance that the original had.

Instead, we got what felt like a straight-to-DVD sequel no one will reference again. Imagine if Michael Jordan’s “I’m Back” fax turned out to be, “I’m Back … to endorse Hanes boxer-briefs.” Same energy.

LeBron has earned the right to do whatever he wants with his brand. But this stunt wasn’t clever, or meaningful, or even fun. It was just awkward.